Stop Sounding Like a Gringo - Don't Make This Spanish Mistake!

[@GreenGiant2007]

Also straightforward is to use llevar in present tense + timeframe + present participle of action verb. Llevo cuatro años estudiando español.

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Yep, also another great option! I think the one in this video is easier as you then avoid having to use any present participles 🙌🏾

[@BamBam-vq2zb]

Great video. I've been saying "he estado" for the last six months 😂

[@joannaquinsey8185]

he dicho esto demaciado jajaj

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Haha glad to be of service to help you out of that one 😅 it's probably one of the most common mistakes I hear Spanish students make though so you're definitely not alone there

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Haha all part of the Spanish learning process

[@SWALEDALESWALEDALE]

You have succeeded in teaching me this phrasing. I used it this morning, thank you Shandon !!

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Woo! Well done for incorporationg what you're learning directly into your speech. Is what it's all about!

[@aonefakind]

So well explained!! Gracias!

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Thanks Shireen! Happy to help :)

[@deekay991]

So very well explained.. Thank you..

[@letstalkspanishnow]

You're welcome! This can be a confusing one for a lot of students so I'm happy that I can clear it up Shandon

[@cellgrrl]

I have been uncertain about this topic for years! I was saying it wrong, thank you!

[@letstalkspanishnow]

It's one of those ones that's hard to learn without someone telling you the right way to do it! You're welcome 🙏🏾

[@kevinbick1234]

Great video well worth a subscribe

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Thanks a lot! Happy to hear you found it useful - it's a very useful Spanish phrase/structure to be able to use 🙏🏾

[@Stephen-kf8um]

I make this mistake. I need to go back to the grammar books.

[@letstalkspanishnow]

It's very common so don't worry about it! Some of these things it's just a case of someone pointing out that you've been saying it wrong, then you won't have any problems with it in the future!

[@marcusmoses6529]

What if you don’t want to specify a duration? For example if I want to say “ I’ve been watching KZbin videos to help me learn Spanish “ Would I just say, “Miro videos de KZbin para ayudame aprender español.” Or something like that? Thanks!

[@letstalkspanishnow]

In that case you could say 'He estado viendo videos de KZbin para ayudarme a aprender español'

[@jboi9631]

You can also say 'llevo seis meses aprendiendo espanol.'

[@letstalkspanishnow]

That's right! There are often lots of ways to say the same thing in Spanish

[@SWALEDALESWALEDALE]

I have the phrase 'he estado' fixed in my brain. Can I wing it and use the construction that immediately comes to mind: He estado estudiando espanol por seis meses. Its not as you have taught but can I get away with it and be understood rather than relearn at this stage in my life (78!) ?

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Haha yes you can be forgiven for not doing it this way!

[@tonyburns5069]

@@letstalkspanishnow For clarity can I check that it's not actually grammatically wrong to use the "he estado" form, simply that it's not normal Spanish?

[@ADAMREES-GRITGYM]

Thanks

[@letstalkspanishnow]

No hay de qué! 🙏🏾

[@Stevecamden]

llevo estudiando español desde hace tres meses

[@letstalkspanishnow]

That's using two different Spanish phrases! You can either say: Llevo tres meses estudiando español Or Estudio español desde hace tres meses But be careful not to mix the two!

[@helenamcginty4920]

Desde hace ( pronounced hathe in Spain) was one of the first constructions I learned both here in Spain and in England. I would never have used the perfect. Maybe teaching methods vary between Europe and the US. ??

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Hola! I'm from London and have heard quite a few people try to form the sentence in this way I think it's just because some people when they come to it try to translate the sentence word for word into Spanish, especially when they come across it in the middle of a conversation - meaning they might actually have been taught the phrase before, but forget it under pressure!

[@Xxsn1p3rXlugiaXx]

HUGE🎉

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Glad it was helpful! 🙏🏾 Definitely one of my Spanish lessons that Spanish learners have found most useful 🚀

[@ertfgghhhh]

Llevo estudiar por dos años

[@letstalkspanishnow]

It would be Llevo dos años estudiando español Thanks for commenting - hope the video was helpful!

[@ertfgghhhh]

@letstalkspanishnow so it would be "I have been 2 years studying Spanish"? Instead of "I have been studying for two years". Ok. Thanks

[@ertfgghhhh]

@letstalkspanishnow veo el comentario después del mio. Gracias por tu ayuda

[@adamwade2054]

It doesn’t mattter you are a gringo your not sitting an exam your learning to communicate

[@letstalkspanishnow]

Yep you're right, I don't teach for sitting exams - but you still want to learn the right way to say things so you sound natural when speaking Spanish